The club on Tuesday confirmed its intention to challenge the severity of the penalty after Minson pleaded guilty to the charge arising from the VFL match last weekend.

The verdict would have came as a shock to the player, after both his advocates and VFL representatives had recommended a fine and reprimand would be an appropriate punishment.

Minson's advocate said the player was "extremely disappointed" and would appeal.

Former Bulldogs ruckman and Triple M radio host Luke Darcy couldn't hide his outrage over the decision on Wednesday morning.

"If you're going to suspend for four weeks for that the VFL is a disgrace [and] whoever runs the VFL is a disgrace," Darcy said on Triple M.

"Two umpires have cleaned players up this year. Are they banned for four weeks? No, they're not. It's a disgrace.

"I cannot cop it, it is outrageous. "

Minson was playing for Footscray against North Ballarat when he pushed field umpire Thomas Chrystie in the back of the shoulder.

Chrystie rated the strength of the open-handed push a four or five out of 10, if a 10 was strong enough to knock him to the ground.

He said Minson swore at him immediately before the contact, which he found intimidating.

But Chrystie said that once he told Minson he was reported the player apologised twice, then attempted to say sorry again after the game.

Chrystie also stressed that he was required under VFL rules to report the contact and that he was not injured as a result.

In his defence, Minson's advocate said the 30-year-old had already been punished twice, by being sent off the ground in the second quarter, and by subsequent media coverage, which he said was misleading.

The advocate said Minson had been an All-Australian player and was desperate to get back into the seniors. "To miss any football at all would not fit the crime and be disproportionate to the offence," he said.

He said Minson had received an award at the Bulldogs for his charity work, and understood the importance of umpires because his father had officiated in more than 200 amateur games.

Both Minson's advocates and the umpires' representatives agreed that a reprimand and fine would be an appropriate punishment for the push.

Minson's advocates also told the tribunal he had recently completed a science and engineering degree at Melbourne University, spoke German and played the saxophone.

He had been reported twice before, in 2013 and 2014, both for getting involved in melees – but not for starting them.

On both of those occasions he was fined.

The tribunal, which deliberated for 25 minutes before making its decision, said umpires were sacrosanct and the offence was serious.

The tribunal said it rarely heard charges of intentional contact with umpires because most players understood it was not on.